Skip to main content

First Space Black steel Apple Watches arriving, hands-on photos (Gallery)

In line with shipments beginning yesterday for multiple Apple Watch models, the Space Black version of the stainless steel Apple Watch has begun arriving at the doorsteps for those who placed orders early into the April pre-order process. We’ve received our 42mm Space Black Apple Watch and have put together a hands-on gallery of photos for those interested in the only all-black Apple Watch model. As our photos indicate, this Apple Watch still includes white packaging and a silver MagSafe charging puck, so there are no special black accessories for this version. We also highlight how the Space Black Apple Watch looks with the black Leather Loop and Sport Band in this gallery, below.

 

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

  1. Chris Cheshire - 9 years ago

    Stealth! Wicked… Still waiting for my Sport in Space Grey with black band…

    • incredibilistic - 9 years ago

      Same here. Now that I’m in the May 13th – 27th window I’m checking the Apple Store app order page like a maniac several times a day. That and watching my email like a hawk.

      Not sure which’ll come first but now that inside the shipping window I’m getting really, really anxious.

      • erizand - 9 years ago

        Does your space grey sport watch status still say processing on the Apple Store orders section? Or has it changed? Mine still says processing with the May 13th to May 27th date like yours

      • I did the same as well and it actually came early. I was set for the 20th but it arrived the 5th.

      • icrew - 9 years ago

        Or you could just use the Deliveries app/dashboard widget (for Mac, iOS, and Watch) to track it for you — Apple orders are one of the many sorts of deliveries that that tool can track. See junecloud.com. Note that I’m not affiliated with them other than being a very satisfied user.

      • incredibilistic - 9 years ago

        @erizand

        Yes, my order status still shows “Processing”.

        At this point I’m either waiting for the oder status to change, receive an email that my credit card’s been run or both.

        I’m only 2 days into my shipping window but I’m already getting impatient. Hoping something will happen next week especially after reading another story on 9to5 that some July shipments are being moved up to June. If that’s true then my order should’ve been processed last week.

        But again, I’m just a bit rowdy. I want it now!! It’s been over a month already!! Gimmie my Apple Watch Apple!!!

      • ryanvaldezzz - 9 years ago

        I am also checking my updates and feed like every thirty minutes. We’re all suffering. I preordered my space grey 42mm sport on April 12th and still got the June 22-29 window. It’s stupid because Aron of peoe got the same watch as me accept they got theirs In May and they still have the same shipping dates. It’s so unfair!!!

      • erizand - 9 years ago

        Did your status change to shipped? Mine is arriving tomorrow. Card was charged this morning.

    • Once you get it you’ll be very pleased. You’ll be surprised that not many people notice it. I think it’s mostly because of the black band. That’s a plus for me. Band is super comfortable and the aluminum looks amazing.

      • erizand - 9 years ago

        My card has been charged and My status for the space gray changed to preparing for shipment as of this morning!!! Very exciting

  2. Juan O (@juanohg) - 9 years ago

    Any updates on the SS SB SBLB…..??????

    • My 38mm Space Black Stainless Steel with Space Black Link was originally a ‘June’ estimate that improved to delivery between May 26 and June 3rd. It has now shipped on May 13th and I will receive it on May 15th. You should see movement any time now Juan!

      • Juan O (@juanohg) - 9 years ago

        You have the 38 but I have the 42 :/ and when did you order it and at what time????

      • Alexander Eiden - 9 years ago

        Yeah I also ordered the Space Black 42mm. Still says it’ll ship in June. And I ordered 5 minutes after they were on sale for preorder

  3. aukermania - 9 years ago

    That’s a freaking amazing underside. WOAH.

    • aukermania - 9 years ago

      Never mind. That appears to be the front and just a graphic.

      • friedmud1 - 9 years ago

        It’s part of the initial pairing process. Pretty awesome when you see it in person!

  4. ncctardis - 9 years ago

    Any chance you guys have a midnight blue leather loop?
    My Australian order hasn’t been updated yet, and I’d love to know if it suits this watch

  5. Alexander Eiden - 9 years ago

    I ordered mine at 3:05 AM EST and it still says it will arrive in June! After 5 minutes of it being on sale am I seriously this far behind on the list??? (42mm Space Black Link)

  6. nonyabiness - 9 years ago

    Nice to finally be able to see it in photos. I’m still partial to my SS w/ white sport strap though.

  7. malencar74 - 9 years ago

    I ordered my 42mm Space Black with Link bracelet at 12:01am of the 10th (the first minute after pre-orders started) and still absolutely no update. I don’t mind waiting, but seeing other people who bought theirs hours after I did receive their first is outrageous. Apple really messed this one up.

    • absarokasheriff - 9 years ago

      12 am in one place would be 3am in another depending on time zone differences. The key thing is minutes after start. My order was 1:06 Mountain, 12:05 Pacific or 3:01 Eastern would beat it.

      We should all specify Zulu, Greenwich Mean or UCT Times people.

      • malencar74 - 9 years ago

        12:01am PST. Literally 1 (one) minute after pre-orders started!

    • scumbolt2014 - 9 years ago

      Talk about first world problems …

      • malencar74 - 9 years ago

        You’re right!
        But it’s not that I mind waiting. It’s just that, when you have the expectation that a brand you’ve been loyal to for years (and I don’t want to get into the “Apple Fanboy” discussion. I have no problem admitting I am a fanboy), in part because they used to do things well, it’s hard to not get mad when you wake up in the middle of the night to pre-order and they send watches to people that bought hours after you did first. Still a first world problem, though. :-)

    • Alexander Eiden - 9 years ago

      Same here mate. I was 5 minutes off for my order, and yet people have received theirs already when mine is supposed to be here in June!

    • I completely agree. I ordered mine at 0317 EST. All the traffic for preorder caused the site to crash and so I was not able to order earlier. Even with that I have gotten no updates other than June. To make it worse is that I ordered a spare watch band over a week later and I have it now, but with no watch makes it useless. Any updates for you?

  8. usernamexxx247 - 9 years ago

    I don’t think Apple or any user wants to admit… These watches are a huge waste of money and are pretty stupid…
    Your phone does the same thing dumbasses. And it does more.

    Apple major fail

  9. Marc-David Johne - 9 years ago

    Can you make pictures with the black link bracelet on the normal SS watch?

  10. It’d be awesome if you could tell us when you ordered the watch and when it arrived here! We’re helping people decipher when their Watch is really going to arrive :) wheresmywatch.com

  11. TfT_02 - 9 years ago

    This is my favorite one! I just wish that the Space Black steel with Space Black chainlink band would sell for around 500-600$, and not 1000…

  12. Hélio Sá - 9 years ago

    I want an iphone 6s with this finish :E

  13. andreww500 - 9 years ago

    Really glad I went with the standard stainless steel link bracelet rather than the space black one. Black watches always tend to look a bit plastic. I’m a big fan of the gun metal grey look of the stainless steel one.

  14. Amar (@AmarPR) - 9 years ago

    Got my Apple Watch Stainless steel with sports band few weeks back in Aus!! Happy about it!! :)
    But still this Link bracelet looks awesome!! :(

  15. Andre Shivers - 9 years ago

    I really like the Space Black my only concern is how scratch resistant it is. We know that the stainless scratches easily. If the Black Stainless scratches easily the apple watch will look really ugly fast.

  16. My 42mm space grey says 5-6 weeks as of this morning

  17. absarokasheriff - 9 years ago

    Proof of Life! That is exactly what I ordered. It’s good to see at least one has been manufactured. Looks great. Thanks for the unboxing.

  18. This is the first model other than mine (Sport, Space Grey 42mm) that I actually like. It looks really, really mean (that’s a good thing!)

    As others have questioned/wondered: How is that stainless finish going to hold up? If it scratches like the other stainless steel models this mean-looking watch is going to look ugly really quick.

  19. taymay22taymay22 - 9 years ago

    My 32 mm Space Black has finally changed to preparing for shipment as of 8:30 AM!!!! Was originally given a June arrival date

    • yeah, I had a june order date too, then when i ordered it and got the confo email it said July est delivery.. I flipped out and called corporate..you can’t put online delivery June, the send a order confo saying July.. I did get a email today finally stating, ETA of 5-7 weeks now so a little better but I should of been “preparing to ship”

  20. I love it but honestly, if you through a black leather look on the space grey sport it looks the same and its such a drastic price difference.

  21. I am still waiting on my preorder from May 10 for a 42mm Space Black Stainless Steel Case with Space Black Link Bracelet. The wait is ridic. I ordered a spare watch band for work – Black Sport Band with Space Gray Stainless Steel Pin – well afterward and I have that but no watch. Wondering about how much longer but no answer from Apple.